Thursday Thoughts

Call Us : 540-828-0890 Mail Us : adminasst@bridgewaterumc.com Image Thursday Thoughts February 22, 2024 Thursday Thoughts February 22, 2024 My brain is fried! Recently I had to purchase a new laptop and printer. Easy right? Well, sort of. New sign-ins and passwords were needed for installation. When I first set everything up, my phone and laptop were syncing. Now they don't. When I set up the wireless printer, it would print from my phone. Now it won't. Urrrg. My texts would show up on my computer screen and now I get a message that I cannot connect my account because I already have an account! It is so frustrating that I just want to start over with new accounts and passwords. Everything I go to do requires a password and my password notebook is filled up. Yes, I know you aren't supposed to write down passwords but I can't remember milk and bread on my grocery list if I don't write it down. We know frustration over mundane matters but what about frustration over important matters like our relationship with Christ? Why is it that some people find it hard to grow in their walk of faith? Does it seem frustrating and confusing when no apparent answers come to life's hard questions? If we believe in Christ, life is supposed to be easy, isn't it? Why is it that when we pray sometimes our prayers get no further than the ceiling? When we need to make a decision and need God's help, we need an answer now, so why doesn't he answer like asking Google a question? What are we to do when we are lonely or tempted or need courage? How do we handle fear? If I am a good person will that earn me extra points in heaven? These are important questions and even people who have walked with the Lord for a long time still ask these questions. It all come down to a relationship with Christ. I know that that sounds oversimplified, but that is pretty much it, in my opinion. Relationships take time energy, dedication, and sacrifice. We are in the season of Lent, a perfect time to examine our relationship and see where we need to grow, and what we need to get rid of that is keeping us from a better relationship. Are we comfortable in knowing Christ loves us and lives in us as the Holy Spirit so it's a done deal? Or are we working on deepening that relationship with study and prayer? Have we explored God's purpose for us? "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose."Romans 8: 28 Have we grasped the meaning of the sacrifice of Christ for our sins? "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"Romans 8:31-32 In Psalm 34 when David pretended to be insane to escape the Philistines, wrote a psalm of praise that is comforting to read. This psalm is written for all generations and we can insert our name into these verses: "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all" verses 17-19 There are probably only a few people you trust in this world but even they can let you down. We have a Savior that we can trust, he has proven his love for us by giving his life as a sin sacrifice so that we are covered in the life-giving blood of the Lamb. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us that the only trustworthy one is the Lord. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." All these verses and many more point us to why we need to be in a personal relationship with Christ. None of the frustrations, worries, fears, and loneliness can stand up to the power of knowing Christ in an intimate and life-giving way. All of those questions we may have are answered when we trust and rely on Him to give us peace. We cannot know all the answers to our questions now but one day we will know fully. So stop for a few moments this week and make a concerted effort to grow your relationship with the living and loving God, our Father. Blessings, Becky